Category: Home Tips

It is vital for homes and businesses (or any space where people will be inhabiting) to have safe and secure methods of fire prevention and detection. A smoke detector and fire alarm is always highly recommended for the home and office, with many new homes needing to be compliant with safety insurance standards. These standards include owning a smoke detector in the home, meanwhile protecting health and safety in the workplace requires offices and businesses to have fire alarm systems.

These systems should be maintained regularly, and checked by a professional at least once every few years, though to check your own system and test its functioning would be very helpful to ensure that your fire systems are functioning and able to protect you. Batteries and other parts of the device can be worn, unexpectedly short, or die for various reasons, which is way testing them regularly to check if anything needs replacing is so important. It is advised by professionals that smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month, with batteries being replaced at least twice a year. Some warning signs to note whether your device is malfunctioning is that if the detector gives off false alarms, or frequently reacts to kitchen smoke, or emits regular beeps on its own accord. It is advised to refer to the instructions that came along with your device in testing your system. Generally, however, the main way of testing a device is as simple as this 3-step process:

1) Alert anyone within the home or building that you will be testing.

2) Station a person at the furthest point from the alarm, to be sure that the alarm can be heard from all spaces.

3) Press and hold the test button in the device. If a high-pitched alarm does not sound, the means batteries should be replaced. Check for dust or grime build up on the device also to ensure that there is nothing blocking its grates, which will prevent the alarm from working.

If you are not sure whether to replace batteries, then it’s best to always place new ones in the device. If you are having trouble testing your device yourself, or you need a new system in place,consult a professional fire service to help.

Pests in and around the home can not only be frustrating unwanted guests, but also bring with them health and safety risks that need to be addressed. From illnesses and injury, to structural home damage, it is necessary to know how to maintain your home with preventative pest measures, as well as how best to deal with different insects and critters when you find them in the home. Here we have listed some of the most common home pests and the recommended solutions.

Chemical Control: Ants, Cockroaches and Fleas

One of the main reasons that chemicals work well with these pests is because of the pungent odor that chemicals bring. It is not just that the pesticides will kill these creatures, but they can also be preventative measures stopping ants, cockroaches and fleas from entering the space in the first place. To ensure safety of yourself and your family, use chemicals with care. There are even options for using some essential oils and spices in DIY, natural pesticide remedies if you are adverse to chemical use.

Keep It Dry: Centipedes and Mosquitoes

These critters like wet spaces. Centipedes thrive in damp areas such as sheds, porches and in basements. Seal leaks and cracks to ensure you don’t have damp walls and surfaces. Similarly, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Being sure that you don’t have anything that can collect rain water and create small pools and puddles will help in preventing mosquitoes swarming.

Professional Assistance: Termites and Spiders

Infestations of termites are difficult to get rid of on your own. It is vital to deal with this problem as soon as possible, to avoid structural damage in any wood which can be dangerous for the home. Seek professional termite services to avoid more damage and remove the pests. It is advised to not kill spiders in the home, but instead prevent more eggs from being laid and remove the spiders to place back into a natural environment. If you cant do this yourself, then insect and pest control services can assist with this.